Portable stadium seat



March 21, 3967 c. A. CONNELL 3,310,341

PORTABLE STADIUM SEAT Filed Aug. 10, 1965 Clyde A. Came/l INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,310,341 PORTABLE STADIUM SEAT Clyde A. Connell, Tyler, Tex., assignor to James W. Fair, Tyler, Tex. Filed Aug. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 478,645 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-252) The present invention is generally concerned with portable seats, and more specifically relates to a folding temporary seat and backrest particuluarly adaptable for use on bench-type seats such as normally provided in football stadiums.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a portable folding seat which, while possessing a degree of rigidity in its operative position sufficient so as to adequately support and brace a user, can be so economically manufactured and sold as to actually constitute a disposable or throw-away item.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide a folding seat which, because of its structural stability,can in fact be repeatedly used.

Furthermore, a significant object of the instant invention resides in the utilization of a single fiat member in forming not only the back and seat panels, but also the full width flexible joint therebetween.

Also it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a folding seat wherein rigidifying bars are provided so as to not only receive a major portion of the weight introduced thereto, but also so as to constitute a means for positively locating the seat relative to the supporting bench.

In addition, a significant object of the instant invention resides in the incorporation of unique retaining means for fixing the panels in their operative position relative to each other.

Also, an important object of the instant invention residesin the provision of a portable seat which can be folded into a'compact substantially fiat unit capable of being packed for shipping with similar units in a manner whereby substantially no waste space is present, and in a manner whereby the seats themselves, in the package, substantially eliminate any possibility of damage being sustained thereby.

Furthermore, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a portable stadium seat wherein a major portion of the construction thereof consists of multi-layer cardboard.

Basically, in achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the portable seat of the instant invention consists primarily of an elongated multi-layered cardboard member transversely creased or folded centrally thereacross so as to form two equal sized panels, this creasing of the member resulting in a flattening of the intermediate layer or layers of corrugated cardboard. In addition, the free ends of each of the panels formed by the hinge defining crease are to be rigidifie-d by elongated rectangular bars intimately contacting and secured to the panels and along the full length of the free ends, with at least that bar secured to the seat end depending therefrom a suificient distance so as to provide a means for positioning the seat through engagement with a bench front edge. Further, cushioning pads are provided on both the seat and back panels with these panels being fixed for limited movement relative to each other by a pair of straps, engaged between the corresponding ends of the panel bars. Finally, a pivoted clip-like retainer is mounted in the seat panel for rotation from a first position flat there-against to a second position projecting upwardly therefrom so as to form an abutment preventing the folding down of the back panel.

3,316,341 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 "ice These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the portable stadium seat of the instant invention positioned upon a conventional backless bench;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the hinged integral joint between the panels, this view also illustrating the retaining clip or member and the cross-sectional construction of the panels; I

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a plurality of the seat units stacked for reception within a storage or shipping container; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the portable folding seat comprising the instant invention. This seat consists basically of an elongated one-piece cardboard member 12 including inner and outer sheet-like layers 14 and 16 bonded to and sandwiching therebetween two corrugated layers 18 and 20', these corrugated layers in turn being bonded to and separated by a third intermediate sheet-like layer 22. As will be appreciated from the drawings, and in particular FIGURE 2, the corrugations in the corrugated layers 18 and 20 run longitudinally of the basic member 12 from the free end 24 of the seat panel or portion 26 thereof to the free end 28 of the back panel or portion 30 thereof. The degree of rigidity intro duced into the cardboard seat and back panels 26 and 30 by so orientating the corrugations has been found to be more than ample so as to provide a stable unit, in conjunction with structure. which shall be referred to subsequently, regardless of the weight of the user.

The seat and back panels 26 and 30 are defined by a centrally located integral flexible portion 32 extending transversely across the entire width of the member 12. This flexible portion 32, more clearly seen in FIGURE 2, is formed by compressing the inner and outer layers 14 and 16 toward each other along a linear portion of the member 12 in a manner so as to compress and flatten the corrugated layers 18 and 20 into intimate contact with the layers 14, 16 and 22. It is through this creasing or crimping of the member 12 that a flexible area in the joint 32 is formed. It will be appreciated that several particularly significant features reside in so providing for the pivotal interconnection of the panels 26 and 30. For example, not only does the joint extend along the full width of the panels 26 and 30', but also no extrinsic mechanical fasteners are required such as would tend to greatly increase both the expenses incident to the construction of the seat 10 and the subsequent selling price thereof, in addition to giving rise to a possible weakening of the jointed area.

Further strength and rigidity is introduced into the member 12 by the provision of elongated rectangular rigid bars 34 and 36 along the free ends 24 and 28 of the panels 26 and 30. Each of the bars 34 and 36 is in-. timately secured to its corresponding end along the full length thereof by any suitable bonding means, such as for example a series of staples or adhesive. The seat bar 34 in particular projects a substantial distance below the bottom layer 16 of the seat panel 26 and has a fiat inner face 38 along the full length thereof for flush engagement against the forward edge 40 of a conventiontal stadium bench or seat 42. In this manner, a positive engagement is had with the front edge 40 of the supporting bench 42 along the full length of the front end of the seat panel 26 with this engagement being-effected through the elongated bar which is in turn intimately engaged with the seat panel along the full length thereof. Thus, not only may be portable seat be properly and quickly positioned, but also, a stable engagement is insured which is not dependent upon a particular thickness of the bench 42'.

The outer ends of the rigidifying bars 34 and 36 are located generally coplanar with the side edges of the panels 26 and 30 with the corresponding ends of the bars 34 and 36 being interconnected by elongated fixed-length flexible straps or cords 44. These straps 44, fixed to the end portions of the bars by suitable fasteners, limit the opening pivotal movement of the panels 26 and 30 relative to each other to a substantially right angle as shown in FIGURE 1, while at the same time allowing for a complete collapsing of the panels 26 and 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. It will be appreciated that the two rigid bars 34 and 36, through the flexible side straps 44 support a substantial portion of the weight of the body of the user introduced into the seat defined by the reinforced cardboard panels 26 and 30.

In order to retain the back panel 30 upright should a user thereof temporarily leave the seat, a small rotatably mounted retainer or retaining clip 48 is provided. This retainer 48, consisting of in effect a bent rigid rod, includes an elongated stem 50 having an integrally formed elongated right angularly related foot 52 on one end thereof and relatively shorter integral right angularly bent handle 54 on the other end thereof. The elongated foot 52 is introduced through a slot or aperture 56 within the top sheet-like layer 14 of the panel 26 and into the upper corrugated layer 18. There it is rotatable between a first position, illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, wherein the stem 50 and handle 54 overlie the top layer 14 in order to enable a folding of the seat, and a second position wherein the stem 50 projects perpendicularly upward from the seat panel 26 so as to form an abutment or stop preventing a downward folding of the back panel 30. As should be appreciated from FIGURE 2, the retainer 48 will most likely have the foot 52 thereof inserted through the aperture 56 prior to the mounting of the straps 44. Further, if so desired, a portion of the foot 52 rearward of the aperture 56 can overlie the top layer 14 thereof thus providing for a slight frictional resistance to a rotating of the retainer 48 such as would tend to maintain the stem 50 perpendicularly once so positioned and until manually returned to its down position through a grasping of the handle 54.

It is also contemplated that cushioning pads 58 and 60 be bonded to the inner layers 14 of the seat and back panels 26 and 30 so as to introduce an additional factor of comfort, the panels 58 and 60 being made of suitable cushioning material, such as polyurethane slabs.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, it should be appreciated that the manner in which the seat 10 can be compactly folded constitutes a significant feature of the instant invention. Upon folding the seat, the straps 44 being received between the panels 26 and 30, the rigidifying rectangular bars 34 and 36 are located parallel to each other which, when alternating the folded seats 10, tends to provide, in a packing or storing carton 62, a solid frame for both rigidifying the carton 62 itself and providing a protected enclosure for the more vulnerable cardboard members 12.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a highly novel foldable portable seat has been defined, this seat being capable of extremely economical manufacture and at the same time possessing a high degree of rigidity and stability so as to make it uniquely adapted for use under relatively rough conditions, for example at sport events, as auxiliary seats on boats, etc.

Incidently, while not specifically noted supra, it should b6 plflIfi i tfid I t he full back panel 30 presents an enlarged rear surface upon which any suitable advertising or promotional material could be applied,

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and'operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. I

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable seat comprising an elongated planar member, a flexible area defined in said member between the opposite ends thereof and extending across the width thereof so as to divide said member into two generally equal size pivotally joined panels, said panels constituting a seat panel and a back panel, an elongated rigid bar intimately engaged with each panel along substantially the entire free end thereof, limit means engaged between the'bar of the back panel and the bar of the seat panel so as to limit pivotal movement of the panels between a first overlying relationship and a second generally rightangular relationship, the rigid bar engaged with the seat panel end projecting below the bottom of the seat panel along substantially the full length thereof, said seat panel bar including a flat inner edge face orientated at generally a right angle to the bottom of the seat panel so as to define a fu-ll'length bench abutting face, said member being formed of cardboard and including inner and outer sheet-like layers and at least one intermediate corrugated layer bonded therebetween, the corrugations of the corrugated layer extending lengthwise from one end of the member to the other end thereof, said cardboard member, in said flexible area, having the sheetlike layers compressed together with the corrugated layer therebetween being flattened and intimately conforming to the sheet-like layers, thereby allowing for a pivotal movement of the panels relative to each other, and movably mounted means on said seat for selectively retaining said panels at substantially right angles to each other, said movable retainingmeans comprising an elongated stern, and an elongated foot integral with said stem at a first end thereof and projecting at substantially a right angle thereto, said foot being rotatably mounted on one of said panels lengthwisethere-of with said stem being located adjacent said flexible area, whereby said stem, through a rotation of the foot, is selectively positionable overlying the foot mounting panel or projecting at a' substantially right angle thereto for engagement by the other panel so as to restrict movement of the panels toward each other.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the limit means between the panel bars comprise elongated fixed length flexible strap-like members.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said panel bars, upon a folding of said panels into overlapping relation, parallel and overlie each other.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the panel mounting the stem foot has an aperture defined in the inner sheet-like layer, said foot being introduced into a corrugation in the corrugated layer through the aperture.

5. A portable seat comprising an elongated planar member, a flexible area defined in said member between the opposite ends thereof and extending across the width thereof so as to divide said member into two generally equal size pivotally joined panels, said panels constituting a seat panel and a back panel, an elongated rigid bar intimately engaged with each panel along substantially the entire free end thereof, limit means engaged between the bar of the back panel and the bar of the seat panel so as to limit pivotal movement of the panels between a first overlying relationship and a second generally rightangular relationship, and movably mounted means on said seat for selectively retaining said panels at substantially right angles to each other, said movable retaining means comprising an elongated stem, and an elongated foot integral with said stem at a first end thereof and projecting at substantially a right angle thereto, said foot being rotatably mounted on one of said panels lengthwise thereof with said stern being located adjacent said flexible area, whereby said stern, through a rotation of the foot, is selectively positionable overlying the foot mounting panel or projecting at a substantially right angle thereto for engagement by the other panel so as to restrict movement of the panels toward each other.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said member is formed of cardboard and includes inner and outer sheetlike layers and at least one intermediate conrugated layer bonded therebetween, the corrugations of the corrugated layer extending lengthwise from one end of the member to the other end thereof, said rigid bars transversely stabilizing said member at the opposite ends thereof and constituting the sole securing means for the limit means, said limit means comprising elongated fixed length flexible strap-like members.

7. A portable seat comprising an elongated self-supporting planar member, said member being formed of cardboard and including at least one corrugated layer, the corrugations thereof extending lengthwise from one end of the member to the other end thereof, a flexible area defined in said member between the opposite ends thereof and extending transversely across the width thereof so as to divide said member into two generally equal size pivotally joined panels, said panels constituting a seat panel and a back panel, a straight elongated rigi-d bar intimately engaged with each panel solely along substantially the entire free end thereof, flexible strap means extending between and having the opposite ends thereof directly connected to the side ends of the bar of the back panel and the bar of the seat panel so as to limit pivotal movement of the panels between a first overlying relationship and a second generally right angular relationship, the rigid bar engaged with the seat panel projecting below the bottom of the seat panel along substantially the full length threof and constituting the sole projection therebelow, said seat panel barincluding a flat inner edge face orientated at generally a right angle to the bottom of the seat panel so as to define a full length bench abutting face.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,695 9/1895 Jarnme 297183 672,683 4/ 1901 P'offeiger 297378 1,963,708 6/1934 Marvin 297381 2,198,157 4/1940 Fisher 297252 2,555,566 6/1951 Bleck 297183 2,797,740 7/ 1957 Capello 297381 3,053,569 9/1962 Clark 297442 3,097,016 7/1963 Bigler 297457 FOREIGN PATENTS 404,063 10 1909 France. 590,697 7/ 1947 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE SEAT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED PLANAR MEMBER, A FLEXIBLE AREA DEFINED IN SAID MEMBER BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE WIDTH THEREOF SO AS TO DIVIDE SAID MEMBER INTO TWO GENERALLY EQUAL SIZE PIVOTALLY JOINED PANELS, SAID PANELS CONSTITUTING A SEAT PANEL AND A BACK PANEL, AN ELONGATED RIGID BAR INTIMATELY ENGAGED WITH EACH PANEL ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE FREE END THEREOF, LIMIT MEANS ENGAGED BETWEEN THE BAR OF THE BACK PANEL AND THE BAR OF THE SEAT PANEL SO AS TO LIMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE PANELS BETWEEN A FIRST OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP AND A SECOND GENERALLY RIGHTANGULAR RELATIONSHIP, THE RIGID BAR ENGAGED WITH THE SEAT PANEL END PROJECTING BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT PANEL ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF, SAID SEAT PANEL BAR INCLUDING A FLAT INNER EDGE FACE ORIENTATED AT GENERALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT PANEL SO AS TO DEFINE A FULL LENGTH BENCH ABUTTING FACE, SAID MEMBER BEING FORMED OF CARDBOARD AND INCLUDING INNER AND OUTER SHEET-LIKE LAYERS AND AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE CORRUGATED LAYER BONDED THEREBETWEEN, THE CORRUGATIONS OF THE CORRUGATED LAYER EXTENDING LENGTHWISE FROM ONE END OF THE MEMBER TO THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID CARDBOARD MEMBER, IN SAID FLEXIBLE AREA, HAVING THE SHEETLIKE LAYERS COMPRESSED TOGETHER WITH THE CORRUGATED LAYER THEREBETWEEN BEING FLATTENED AND INTIMATELY CONFORMING TO THE SHEET-LIKE LAYERS, THEREBY ALLOWING FOR A PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE PANELS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, AND MOVABLY MOUNTED MEANS ON SAID SEAT FOR SELECTIVELY RETAINING SAID PANELS AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, SAID MOVABLE RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STEM, AND AN ELONGATED FOOT INTEGRAL WITH SAID STEM AT A FIRST END THEREOF AND PROJECTING AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE THERETO, SAID FOOT BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID PANELS LENGTHWISE THEREOF WITH SAID STEM BEING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID FLEXIBLE AREA, WHEREBY SAID STEM, THROUGH A ROTATION OF THE FOOT, IS SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE OVERLYING THE FOOT MOUNTING PANEL OR PROJECTING AT A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLE THERETO FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE OTHER PANEL SO AS TO RESTRICT MOVEMENT OF THE PANELS TOWARD EACH OTHER. 